Houses are divided (based on their qualities) into 3 groups: Kendra (angular), Panapara (succedent), Apoclima (cadent). Planets in Kendra houses are strongest and active to manifest their potential. Order of strength (starting from strongest): 10, 7, 4, 1. Planets in tenth can dominate chart and even overpower the Udaya Lagna (Ascendant). These houses are similar in qualities to movable signs. They are called „Lakshmi houses“ (goddess of fortune): 1, – fortune of body; 4, – fortune of home; 7, – fortune of marriage; 10, – fortune of career. Planets in Panapara (succedent) houses are moderate in strength and similar to fixed signs. Order in decrement of strength: 5, 11, 2, 8. Those houses are generally related to accumulation and maintaining.

Houses 3, 6, 10, 11 are Upachaya (increasing) houses. Planets located in them grow in strength and give progressively better results, as one gets older. Natural malefics do well in these houses and give power to overcome difficulties. The lords Upachaya houses (except 10) usually inauspicious and can cause harm. They are too impulsive in nature. Houses 10 and 11 are best among Upachaya houses.

Apachaya houses:

Houses 1, 2, 4, 7, 8 are Apachaya (decreasing) houses. Planets located in them lose their strength through time. Natural malefics do not do well in these houses. The 8 house is the worst and the most unfortunate house in chart.

Trine (Trikona) houses:

Houses 1, 5, 9 are Trikona (trine) houses. Residency in this set of houses is a source of strength, though kendra placements are a little stronger than Trikona. These houses are houses of Vishnu, deva of dharma. The ninth house is the best in this set, followed by fifth.

Duhsthanas or Difficult Houses:

Houses 12, 8, 6 and according some authors 1 are Duhsthanas (difficult) houses. Those points are difficult because they are point of transition 8, 6 on both side of descendant and 12 just above ascendant. They are associated with suffering and fear of loss. On the other side houses 12 and 8 are moksha houses and can signify spiritual growth though loss and detachment. Planets located in them, particularly benefics, are weakened and cause problems.

The sixteen Kalas or portions of the Moon: Moon contains 16 portions or Kalas. The sixteenth Kala is unchangeable and represents the basic power (shakti) of Moon, through which it is able to continually to renew itself in the cycles of time. Number of the other Kalas increases and decreases with the waxing and waning of the Moon. On the day of the new moon, the Moon is reduced to only one Kala. Then it gains one Kala every day approximately until reaching the full sixteenth on the day of the full Moon. The increasing and decreasing of the portions of the Moon shows the fluctuations of the mind, as the Moon represents manas in general.

Karanas:

Karana means, „instrument“. Each Tithi is divided into 2 Karanas. In total, there are 11 Karanas, which are named according to different animals.

The main inauspicious Karanas:

The first (Lion [Bhava]) and last 3 (Cattle [Chatuspada], Snake [Naga], Worm [Kimstughna]) are fixed in nature. The fixed Karanas and Vishti Karana are considered to be generally unfavourable in nature and actions should not be done during them.

Days ruled by benefic planets – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus – are good for most actions. Thursday and Friday are the best, as Jupiter and Venus are the most auspicious planets.

Generally unfavourable days of the week for action:

Days ruled by malefic planets – Sunday, Tuesday and Saturday – Sun, Mars and Saturn – have some unfavorability. Tuesday and Saturday are worse in this respect.
What actions are good to do on Tuesday? It has a marsian quality of energy. So, it is good for physical activities, sport and especially martial arts. Work with metals, mechanisms. This day is good for worship warrior-like deities; Skanda, Chandika.

Tithis

Timing in Vedic Astrology

Tithis: Tithis are lunar days, which measure the Kalas or positions of the Moon. Each lunar day or Tithi average a little shorter than one solar day, – 23 hours and 37 minutes. There are 371 Tithis in a normal year. The Tithis, however, are irregular in length because Moon’s rate of motion is irregular. It varies from 11 to 15 degrees a day. This means that an actual Tithi may be a little longer or shorter than a day. When the Moons rate of motion is fast, there may be 2 Tithis in 1 day. A Tithi may therefore be skipped in the calendar (called „kshaya“ Tithi in the Panchanga). When the Moon’s rate of motion is slow, which is more rare, the same Tithi may occur on 2 consecutive days („vriddha“ Tithi). There 15 types of Tithis, divided into two groups relative to the waxing and waning Moon, creating a total of 30.

It arose through the influence of Vedic Sidereal astrology, but also argues that the original Western Astrology was a sidereal system. We may, therefore, call Vedic Astrology „Eastern Sidereal Astrology“.

Some auspicious Tithis:

Tithis, which belong to group „Purna“, are generally very favourable (except the day of the new Moon). They allow maximum development to occur. This group consists from Panchami (fifth), Dashami (tenth), Purnima (fifteenth). Those, which belong to Nanda (1, 6, 11) and „Bhadra“ (2, 7, 12) groups, are considered as generally auspicious.

Some inauspicious Tithis:

Tithis, which belong to group „Rikta“, are generally inauspicious, and are not to be used for any important actions. This group consists from Chaturthi (fourth), Navami (ninth), Chaturdashi (fourteenth). Also, day of new Moon and day after new Moon (the first) are generally unfavourable. Many astrologers also reject sixth, the eight in particular, and the twelfth days for important actions. Tithis starting with the twelfth (Dvadashi) of the dark half of the Moon are generally avoided for important actions as they are generally regarded as unfavourable.

Qualities of the fifth and tenth Tithis:

Tithi is a very favourable day for all good actions: travel, gaining wealth and giving gifts, performing religious ceremonies and practices, putting on gemstones, meditation, study, gaining occult knowledge, fasting, healing. Good for worship of Shiva and Shakti, as they wear the crescent Moon on their heads. Also, good for learning and the worship of Sarasvati. Not favourable for negative actions or actions requiring force such as punishment.

Dashami (tenth) Tithi is very favourable. Good for travel, putting on gems or new clothes, marriage, ceremonies and parties, income, vehicles and houses, study and learning, all healing actions, and for visiting important people. The bright Tithi (the tenth) is perhaps the most fortunate of all Tithis and is good for all expansive ventures. At this point the cosmic masculine energy (Shiva) reaches its strongest power. On the dark Tithi (the 25-th), the cosmic feminine power (shakti) is strongest, and is good for the worship of the Devine Mother.